Power mechanism.



UNITED STATES Patented September 22, 1903.

BION J. ARNOLD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POWERVMECHANISMI SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 739,773, dated September 22, 1903.

Original application filed June-12, 1900, Serial No. 20.034, Divided and this application filed March 16,1901. Serial No. 51,484. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, BION J; ARNOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power Mechanism, (Case No. 6,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to power mechanism employing eccentrics, and has for its object the provision of a variable eccentric and improved means for controlling the eccentricity thereof. By suitably connecting this eccentric to a main driving-shaft or other shaft of a power plant or to a shaft specially driven by a small engine or motor variable strokes may be imparted to the reciprocating part from the constantly-revolvin g shaft.

The specific feature of the invention form ing the subject-matter of this divisional application consists in the provision of automatic means for governing the position of the eccentric with relation to its driving-shaft, this adjustment being effected in accordance with the amount of work that is performed, the range of adjustment being preferably from no stroke to full stroke of the reciproeating element.

A particular adaptation of my invention has been found to be of great service in connection with boiler feed-pumps, in which connection the eccentrics may be so arranged that by means of suitable pressure-cylinders and switching apparatus they will automatv ically maintain a constant pressure of Water in the pipes feeding the boilers, so that as the demand for water variep the supply may be governed by correspondingly-varied lengths of stroke of the pump.

The invention may also be applied in connectionwith expansion and reversing gears for steam or other engines or for varying the stroke of eccentrics for working automatic stokers. I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the precise application to which the invention may be put.

One of many automatically-operated devices designed to carry out my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whioh- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an eccentric mechanism. Fig. 2 is a detailed view showing-a collector-ring upon the driving-shaft and a contact-brush in engagement therewith entering into the construction of which Fig. 1 illustrates a part. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the mechanism whereby the adjustment of the movement of the reciprocating element is edected, the invention being shown as applied in this View to a pumping system.

Like parts are indicated by similar charactors of reference throughout the diderent figures.

A shaft 0; is preferably constantly driven,

a pump 13 being operatively associated with.

the shaft, whose piston in this instance constitutes the reciprocating part, whose stroke may be varied according to the demand for water. The mechanism that may satisfactorily be employed for automatically controlling the adj ustmentof the eccentric is illustrated. An eccentric e is fixed to the driving-shaft. A second eccentric e is preferably mounted about the eccentric e, the eccentricity of both eccentrics being preferably equal, so that when the parts are in the position illustrated most clearly in Fig. 1 the eccentrio-rod j will have no motion imparted to it, as the outer surface of the eccentric Q will be concentric with the rotating shaft. The eccentric e is provided with a magnetizing-coil u, so situated as to be capable when energized of exerting a magnetic pull upon the eccentric 6, whereby the said eccentric 6 may be locked in its adjustment with reference to the eccentric e. Five collector-rings 7c is k k k may be disposed about the driving-shaf t and fixed with relation thereto. The number of collector-rings, however, may be varied. The collector-ring k is connected directly with one terminal of the energizingcoil to and also in this instance with the negative pole of the battery or generator 01, through the agency of a brush. The other ICO terminal of the energizing-coil is adapted for connection with the positive pole of the batnected with the contacts Z P.

tery through the agency of the collector-rings 7c 71; k k and the contacts a" 2 e Z4 and the switching device it.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated I employ two collector-rings 7c and k which are in permanent connection with one terminal of the coil u, so that when the switching means serve to connect the contacts e and s with the positive pole of the battery the said energizing-coil will be connected with the positive pole of the battery by means of either of the said collector-rings. Ipreferably construct the collector-rings in the manner shown in Fig. 2, aninsulatingstrip 76 preferably serving to break the electrical continuity of the circuit under conditions to be hereinafter set forth that may be established by the said rings. The rings 70 each preferably contain an insulating-segment, the segments being angularly displaced with respect to each other, so that when the apparatus is in the position illustrated current will continuously flow through the energizing-coil. Collector-rings 7r; k are also connected with the same terminal of the coil to that is connected with the collector-rings 70' 70", contact breakers Z Z, however, being re spectively inserted inthe circuit including the said collector-rings. The contact-breaker Z preferably consists of two brush-contacts placed upon the periphery of the casting c, which casting acts as a support for the eccentric e. The connecting-wires Z and Z are connected with the contacts Z, so that no circuit can be closed through the collector-ring 10 unless connection is established between,

the contact-terminals Z and Z. In order to establish this connection, I preferablyemploy a segment y, fastened upon the outer periphcry of the eccentric e, which segment serves to close the circuit between contacts Z and. Z when the eccentric e and eccentric e are in such a position that no motion is imparted to the eccentric-rodj. I also provide contacts Z Z in circuit with the collector-ring 7c, the conducting-wires Z Z being respectively con- The segment y may also serve to establish communication between the contacts Z Z This connection preferably only happens when the eccentric e is displaced about the eccentric e approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, the position of maximum throw of the eccentricrodj." Thus no current will be supplied to the energizing-coil a through the agency of either of the collector-rings 7c and 70 unless the eccentric mechanism is either in a zero position or theposition of maximum throw.

The operation of this clutch mechanism will be readily understood. When the parts occupy the position shown, so that current is being conveyed to the contact-brushes 2 2 both collector-rings 7c and 70 are energized and serve to complete the continuity of the circuit including the energizing-coil'u",whereby the eccentric c is held stationary with respect to the eccentric e. This is owing to the fact that the insulating-strips 70 which are inserted in the collector-rings 7c and W, are angularly displaced, so that when one collector-ring does not furnish current to the coil u the other collector-ring willbe in position to permit this current to be furnished. In this manner the eccentric t' is held in any position between zero and maximum throw and will cause a constant supply of water to be furnished. If now the pressure of the water is too low, the plunger 0 within the cylinder A, that communicates with the supplytank B, is lowered, the contact-brushes z and z -thereby being brought into circuit with the battery it, a coil-spring o, surrounding the piston-rod of the plunger, serving to ef-. feet the depression of the plunger. If the eccentric e is in a position of maximum throw at this time, it will be seen that no change in the position of-the said eccentric takes place, inasmuch as the circuit through the collector ring 7c is established by means of the segmental contact y and the contacts Z If, however, the eccentric e is' not in a position of maximum throw, the circuit through the collector-ring 7a is open, when current is furnished to the coil u solely through the agency of the collector-ring 70'. As this collectorring has an insulating portion in its periphery, it is evident that after each revolution the eccentric e is released from its engagement with eccentric e, owing to the temporary demagnetization of the coil to, whereupon a certain slippage between the eccentrics is effected. In this manner the eccentric will reach its maximum throw ina certain numberf of revolutions unless the requisite supply of water has been secured before'the maximum throw is reached, in which case the switching mechanism n will again be moved upward against the force of the coil-spring 0' to again complete circuit through the brushes e and g If the desired water-supply, however, has not been secured, the eccentric will reach its maximum throw, and in this position the segmental contact-strip 'y will serve to connect the cont-acts Z Z whereby circuit through the collector-ring 7c is completed, whereupon the coil u will be con stantly energized to hold the eccentric e in its adjusted position of maximum throw. If the water is accumulated within the tank above a fixed limit, the plunger 0 will be elevated to include the brushes 2 2 in circuit with the battery 11, in which case the eccentric e will again slip about the eccentric 6 until the amount of water is sufficiently decreased or until the eccentric ehas slipped into its zero position, whereupon circuit is completed through the contact parts Z Z through the agency of the segmental strip 11 The slippage is'always in the same direction, as is evident, and it may happen that the cocentric e may revolve relatively tothe eccentric e an angular distance of somewhat more than one hundred and eighty degrees in order to reach its position either t. maximum or minimum throw. This adjustment, however, may be accomplished within a very few revolutions, ten or twelve revolutions being usually sufficient to effect the desired adjustment, and although after one or two strokes the supply of water may be increased, although the switching mechanism has been adjusted to secure a decrease in the supply of water, the increased amount furnished during these few strokes will not materially affect the supply.

I have herein shown an eccentric in the form of a strap; but it is obviousthat equivalent eccentrics may be employed,as eccentricpins', as illustrated in my original application, Serial No. 20,034, filed June 12, 1900, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the precise mechanism herein set forth, as many embodiments of my invention may be made without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination of a load-driving eccentric serving to operate a load, electromagnetic means governed by said load for effecting change in the degree of eccentricity of the said eccentric, and switching mechanism arranged to be automatically operated by the load to govern the electromagnetic means, substantially as described.

2. In a power-transmission mechanism, the combination of a load-driving eccentric having a mounting permitting it to be rotated or swung with relation to its support, of a reciprocating load operating element actuated thereby, electromagnetic means governed by said load for efit'ectin g change in the degree of eccentricity of the said eccentric, and switching-mechanism arranged to be automatically operated by the load to govern the electromagnetic means, substantially as described.

3. In a pumping system, the combination with a rotatable support, of a pump-actuating eccentric supported thereby and movable from or toward the axis of rotation of the said support, electromagnetic means controlled by the pumped fluid for governing the degree of eccentricity of the said eccentric, and switching mechanism arranged to be automatically operated by the load to govern the electromagnetic means, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an adjustable eccentric for effecting movement, of an electromagnetic coupling, one of whose members is carried upon said eccentric, and switching mechanism for opening and closingcircuit through the winding of the coupling, to permit slippage between the members thereof to adjust the position of the eccentric and thereafter rengage the said members, substantially as described.

. 5. The combination with an adjustable eccentric for effecting movement, of an electromagnetic coupling, one of whose members is carried upon said eccentric, switching mechanism for opening and closing circuit through the winding of the coupling, to permit slippage between the members thereof to adjust the position of the eccentric and thereafter reengage the said members, and automatic meauscontrolled by the load for effecting the control of the switching mechanism, substantially as described.

p In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of February, A. D. 1901.

BION J. ARNOLD. Witnesses:

GEORGE L. Canes, HARVEY L. HANSON. 

